Straight pull brake lever structure



Jan. 19, 1954 R. A. SANDBERG STRAIGHT PULL BRAKE LEVER STRUCTURE 2 sheets -shee t 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 Pay A. fianab wam Jan. 19, 1954 R. A. SANDBERG 3 STRAIGHT PULL BRAKE LEVER STRUCTUQE Filed D80. 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fist Ray A. Sand/berg Patented Jan. 19,

STRAIGHT PULL BRAKE LEVER.

STRUCTURE Bay A. Sandberg, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,355

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in brake lever assemblies and more particularly to a straightpull brake lever structure for actuatingthe emergency brakes of an automobile or the like.

It is readily apparent that accidental release of the emergency'brake may result in damage to the particular automobile and other property and also might result in danger to human life if the automobile is parked on a hill or is started in I motion by a collision;

It therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an-improved straight pull brake'lever structure embodying a safety release mechanism. I

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved straight pull ratchet type emergency brake lever for an automobile or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a straight pull emergency brake lever structure including an easily operable release mechanism which is equipped to avoid inadvertent actuation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment,'for purposes of illustration only, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a brake lever structure according to the present invention; V

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with a portion of the sleeve broken away to show the ratchet releasing action when the release plunger has been operated;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view showing the plunger-carried camming pin in the camming slot;

Figure 4 is a top plan view'with theattachment'bracket broken away and showing the released brake position ofthe handle in phantom outline;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 4 with the guide pin shown in elevation; and v Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line YIV I of Figure 3 with the camming pin shown in elevation.

A straight pull brake lever structure I 0, which may be utilized for actuating the emergency brakes of an automobile, a truck or the like, has a supporting and guiding tube I l with an actuating assembly l2 reciprocably mounted therein. Atits rearward end portion the guiding and supporting tube II has a-fixedly attached generally L-shaped escutcheon or mounting bracket I4 for-attaching the brake structure to a portion of an automobile suchas an instrument panel. External threads [5 are formed at the forward end of the support tube l I for attaching the tube to another part of the automobile.

The actuating assembly I2 comprises a ratchettypepull rod l6 and an actuating member or handle llfixedly attached over the rear end portion of the rod 16 'by'means 'of a screw Ha. An attachment portion 16a is formed at the forward end of the rod I6 for attaching thereto a brake setting-cable of an automobile emergency brake assemblye For limiting reciprocating movement of the rod-l6 within thetube -l l and for preventing rotation of the rod relative to the tube, a guide pin I8, fixedly attached to the rod l6 and extending radially with respect thereto, rides in a longitudinal guide groove or'slot I9 formed preferably along the top surface portion of the support tube II. The [forward and rearward defining end portions of the slot l9 form respective forward and rearward stops for positively arrestingmovement of the actuating assembly l2 in-conjunction with guide pin 18.

The guide pin l8 includes a straight grooved drive screw 20 with its shank portion driven into a transverse hole 2| through the rod I6 and a head 22 spaced from the'rod l6 and'retaining a rotary guide sleeve or roller 24 on the drive screw between the head and the rod. The guide sleeve 24 has a beveled surface 25 substantially complementary to the adjacent side walls of the slot l I Ratchet means are provided for allowing rearward or brake setting movement of the actuating assembly -I2 but preventing forward movement thereof when the means are engaged. Herein such means comprise a pair of ratchet detents or pawls 26 pivotally attached between a pair of upstanding parallel integral flanges 21 formed on the guide tube I I. The ratchet pawls 26 have a pairv f oppositely formedlegs or flanges 28 extending transversely from each end portion thereof with the upper flanges pivotally connecting the paw-ls by extending through opposed apertures 29 formed through the tube flanges 21. The lower pawl flanges 28 are freely movable in arcuate slots 30 permitting the pawls 26 to pivot 1 the top surface portion of the pull rod I6. The

tional disengagement of the ratchet pawlsjifij from the ratchet teeth 32 and to substantially prevent inadvertent Herein such means comprisefia fratchet"release disengagement thereon sleeve 35 pivotally retained over a portion of the length of the pull rod IE byv means of, the guide pin 18 which is disposed in atransverse'air'cu'ate guide slot 35 formed in the forward end portion of the sleeve 35. Pivoting of the sleeve 35 with 3. .9??? t thawed. 6 i pe mitt t e xtentiv hele j et qfthe guiae s ot Stran m m at n m vem nt between t e lee a d. e w re r tte ,bric opemtient iwe e u fia ii ew l s Q ..thei t.-- 1

"T P FQ i B e tue e eans f r p voti g. e ratchet release sleeved-5, a ratchet release plunger 31 is reciprocablymounted ina longitudinal rearwardly openingbore 38 formed inthe rearward end, portion of the-rodv 16, Theplunger' 31 has an integral enlarged safety release knob or button 39 formed at its rearward end; free of the handle ll. 3 The plunger}? is'resiliently urged rearwardly by a compression spring 40 disposed between the forward end of the plunger andthe Q dF lO T QlE QQm o heb re 3 .rl 'or. cooperating with the-sleeved 5, to rotate .or turn "the same -into pawl releasing position; a camming pin 4i hasa straight grooved portion42 driven into a transverse aperture; 44 in the plunger 31.,The distalend portion of the camcamming pin Al in? slidable; relation, therein.- T ie tward emen o he-plun r 1 1 r e, th mreinec i, 4 1. i ar lra e lot AB topiv tathe sleeve '3 5 ,by cooperation between e Q m a 4i a d. t e e ni a s.- v0f camming slot 46.

In. order to permit unimpeded longitudinal movement of the actuating assembly I2- with re spect to the support tube Hand to efiectdisengagement ofthe ratchet pawl ZGirom the ratchet teeth 32min any positionofthe actuating assembly tor releasing theyehicle emergencybrakes, a longitudinal slot 41 is provided along the upper surface uportionofzthe sleeve 35 t o normallyex pose andclear all of the teeth 3 2 and the pawls 26. .A. straight defining edgeportion 48 of, the slot is disposedr'adjacent the ratchet pawls mewhen therratchet release sleeve is in the inac tive position, Actuation of the plunger 31 to rotatethe [sleeve 35 engages the edge-portion 48 with thewedge portions 3| of the pawlsZB todisengageboth of the pawls from the ratchet teeth 32 asshowh in Figure 2.- When the plunger 3"! is held in the actuated position, the actuating assembly l2 may be moved forwardly; towardlower surface portion of the sleevetiandretainsthe distal endportion of the e; e ve 49 wina? he e em l e e e reeef e tion into releasing relat nto said ,rat

brake releasing position without interference by the ratchet mechanism.

It will be understood that the attachment portion lfia of the pull rod IE will have a forward tension exerted thereon by the emergency brake mechanism (not shown), and the ratchet pawls 26 will: oppose this force to; preventmovement of the actuating assemblyi'l-Z-by cooperation with the ratchet teeth 32 when the emergency brake is-in the set condition with the actuating assembly in a rearward position as shown in Figures l-Iand' 4."- "'T-he actuating assembly l2 may be moved rearwardly to set the emergency brake without actuating the ratchet release mechanism since the. -'paw1f5f-, :25;' will resiliently ride over the ratchet teeth tihwhen the pull rod I6 is moved in a rearward direction.

A featureoitlifiresent invention is the prevention of accidental release of the emergency brake. When the emergency brake is in the set condition, it cannot-Joe released exceptv by turne vof the a$e.l -Y 5,? riiliiiih f o j e e e sur n, th f' llm i fidwkfisilbsj 3 tial e-exe te b tween i f at 42!? and a ratchet tooth 32 because ofthetor'ward a exe teeonihe em e e m e mechanism Theiorcebetween'the engaged pawl and tooth is suiiicient opreclude accidentaldisj n ae nentb ii ad ni'b tm meini. against; the; projectirg; plunge 3 1; order 'torelease the engaged pawland}; atchet'toothfone pu erwa elv on; hemed 1? to? lee fi p e; BiW HihQMW em j i' depresses Y the button .9? a t etieeiifie Pit e 3? and rotating tl iesleeve 35.

handle or, p vo in .e aa aerili ir' r l se. l i er; s ces r-t rel a h brak s:

m eaters: e tiqe it will. b v der.- stood thaltthepres t-ginvention provides a slim; plified and in easily operable; straight pull bralie l ver: forqan; mer en y: b ak meeh ni n, a d; em o n -ni efiicie afe ea u e. amelude d er entz lea H1 6 m ell r felfie. h n ua ed.- c s r fiu leeeq ih d, i ea y. to manufacture and to assemblean'd can be pro d c d' a (a 1 caste-31 29 ;.en ir ake, e e ru bu wrqvidesa u iteryi i ba s melr $9 1 n automobile or the like.

v1t w ll e; u dersipeqrteati modifications an ri o s mey1. h eet d W h ut" de artin mv t es a e 3 the; Qv l,. qn ie b ts; present invention. r r r I imesmyiie en ieen;

1; tr ieh Am .lbrekeonem ie ruq yr ar a vehicle, comprising afsuppoftadapted; to be: e t amedfie, ai ehiel i ct a in m' r eeblv m a l in ailk rert ene... an -t weeessale ei p t.a em a-a mbly. for retaining the assembly in incremental ease; ttin i en i a e actu tin ae m l ind having an aper atiw ti e nor a l -fin said ratchet mean n p miere fs idi ri to allow movement actuating assemblyfin" eea ine i teuto s ht 1 ra e w ti a ir t tu comprising a support pull rodfl'dable in said tube and ha x rod; ther-pawlsrem e1?lam re e e iei. 5 2 ft .If

having and portions releasably engag'eatie with said ratchet teeth to retain the rod in increhicle and having pawls movably mounted thereon, a brake actuating member slidably mounted in said tube and having ratchet teeth engageable with said pawls to retain said member in incremental brake-setting positions, said member including a sleeve journaled thereon and having an aperture normally exposing said ratchet teeth, said sleeve having a spiral camming slot, a camming pin engaged in said slot, and means for moving said pin axially with respect to said member to rotate said sleeve by action of said pin in said slot, whereby one defining edge portion of said aperture contacts said pawls to disengage the same from said ratchet teeth permitting movement of said actuating member in a brakereleasing direction.

4. In a straight pull brake actuating structure for a vehicle, a brake actuating member slidably mounted in a support and ratchet means to retain the member in incremental brake-setting positions, brake release mechanism comprising a sleeve journaled about said actuating member and having an aperture normally preventing interference between the ratchet means and said sleeve, and means for pivoting said sleeve, whereby one defining edee portion of said aperture disengages the ratchet means to permit movement of the actuating member in a brake-releasing direction.

5. In a straight pull brake operating structure for a vehicle, a brake actuating rod slidably mounted in a support and ratchet means to retain the rod in incremental brake-setting positions, brake release mechanism comprising a sleeve journaled about said actuating rod normally free of said ratchet means, said sleeve having a spiral camming slot therein, a camming pin engaged in said camming slot, and means for moving said pin axially with respect to said actuating rod to pivot said sleeve by action of the pin in said slot, whereby a portion of said sleeve is moved into releasing relation to said ratchet means to allow movement of the rod in a brakereleasing direction.

6. In combination in a straight pull brake actuating structure for a vehicle, a support and guiding tube, a brake pull rod slidably mounted in said tube and having a plurality of ratchet teeth, pawl means movably mounted on said tube and engaging said teeth to retain the rod in incremental brake-setting positions, said tube having a longitudinal guide slot with closed ends, a guide pin fixedly attached to said rod and having its distal end portion engaged in said slot to permit axial movement of said rod relative to said tube but to prevent relative rotary movement therebetween, a sleeve journaled on said rod normally free of said pawl means, and means for pivoting said sleeve to engage a portion of the same with said pawl means to disengage the pawl means from the ratchet teeth to permit movement of said rod in a brake-releasing direction thedefining edges of the closed end of said slot coacting with said guide pin to form limit stops to positively arrest respective brake-setting and brake-releasing movement of said rod.

'7. In a straight pull brake operating structure for a vehicle, a brake actuating rod slidably mounted in a support and ratchet means to retain the rod in incremental brake-setting positions, brake lever release mechanism comprising a sleeve journaled about said rod and having a longitudinal aperture normally preventing interference between the ratchet means and said sleeve, said rod having an axial bore in the end portion toward the direction of brake-setting movement, a plunger slidably disposed in said bore, said bored end portion having a longitudinal slot, said sleeve having a spiral camming slot therein, a camming pin fixedly attached to said plunger and having its distal end portion engaged in said longitudinal slot and in said spiral slot, whereby actuation of said plunger pivots said sleeve relative to said rod by action of the camming pin in said slots, and whereby one defining edge portion of said aperture disengages said ratchet means to permit movement of the actuating rod in a brake-releasing direction.

8. In a straight pull brake operating structure, an actuating assembly slidably mounted in a support and mechanism to retain the assembly in incremental brake setting positions, release means comprising a sleeve disposed about said actuating assembly normally free of said mechanism, said assembly having a socket in the end portion toward the brake setting direction, an actuating handle fixedly attached to said end portion, a releaseplunger slidably mounted in said socket, said end portion having a longitudinal slot therein, said sleeve having a spiral camming slot therein, a camming pin fixedly attached to said plunger and having its distal end portion engaged in said longitudinal slot and said spiral slot, spring means biasing said plunger toward unactuated position, whereby actuation of said plunger against the bias of said spring means pivots said sleeve relative to said actuating assembly through action of said camming pin in said slots to move a portion of said sleeve into releasing relation to said mechanism to allow movement of the actuating assembly in a brakereleasing direction.

9. In combination in brake-actuating mechanism, a pull rod having means at one end for attachment to brake mechanism and a handle at the opposite end for pulling the rod for setting the brake, means supporting the rod for reciprocal brake setting and release movements, cooperating pawl and ratchet means on said support and on said rod for holding the rod in incremental brake-setting position, means rotatably mounted relative to the rod and disposed to actuate and thereby separate said pawl means from said ratchet means for releasing from an incremental brake-setting position, and means operatively connected to said rotatably mounted releasing means and manually operable adjacent to the handle end of the rod for actuating said rotatably mounted means.

10. In a brake-operating mechanism, a pull rod having a handle at one end and means at the opposite end for attachment to a brake mechanism, means for supporting the rod reciprocably, pawl and ratchet means carried by the rod and the supporting means and co-operable to hold the rod in a plurality of incremental brake-setting positions into which the rod may be pulled rear- 

